Automobile-signal-controlling device



W. L. BEACH.A

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I5; 1.91.9.

Patented Sept. 20,1921.Y

UNITED STATES WALTEEL. BEACH, E rLIN'r, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBIIE-SIGNAL-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

specification of Lettersratent.

Patented sept. 2o, 1921.

Application led December 15, 1919. Serial No. 344,874.

To all whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, WALTER L. BEACH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re-

' siding at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomobile-Signal-Controlling Devices, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention aims to provide a simple,

durable and inexpensive device that maybe easily and quickly mounted onthe steering column assembly .of an automobile or other motor vehiclefor controlling the operation of a signal used as an accessoryV orsafety equipment of the automobile, the device being held so -that itmay be adjusted to a desired position convenient to the chauffeur ordriver offan automobile.

My invention further aims to provide a Controlling device whereinpositive and reliable means are employed for limiting the movement andlocking an operating member forming part of the device, and theconstruction .of the device is such that mechanism associated therewithis protected from the elements and does not interfere with the usualequipment of an automobile.

My invention will be hereinafter .specifically described and thenclaimed, and reference will now be `had wherein- I` Figure 1 is avertical sectional view of the controlling device; y

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the device, partly inelevation;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the controlling device; Y Y

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the ,sameV as supported by the dash orinstrument board of an automobile, andy l Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe device in connection with the steering column assembly of anautomobile, showing an automobile provided with a signal controlled bythe device. l

The device comprises a cylinder 1 having its lower end open and itsupper end interiorly screwthreaded so as to receive a cap 3 having acentral or axial opening 2 for a plunger or operating member 4 whichisreciprocable within the cap 3. The outer end of the operating member 4has a handle or hand grip member 5 normally engaging the cap 3 and saidoperating member is provided to the drawings,

with a series of'notches 6 adapted to be engaged by a spring presseddetent 7- located within'the cap 3, said detent holdingthe operatingmember 4in an adjusted position.

Suitably attached to `the inner end of the operating member 4, as at8,is a flexible member 9 trained under a grooved pulley or sheave 10journaled in the inner bifurcated end 11 of a slottedv and Curved stopmember 12carried bythe cap gand disposed longi-v tudinally of thecylinder lbetween the operating member 4 and the walls of said cyl-` jinder. Y l va .v

The stop member 12-is curved on an arc having for its centertheoperating member 4 andk ysaid stop member has longitudinal slots1314'and 15 with saidfslots varying in length and all of said slotscommunicatf ing at the linner end of the stop member 12, as best showninFig. 2. -f v j Protruding into the slots of -the'stop member 12 is aradially'disposed pin 16 carried by lthe operating member V4- andoutward movement of said operating member is limited bythe pin 16engaging the outer end walls of theslots 13, 14 and 15. With the slots'13, 14 and 15 communicating it is possible to rock or partially' rotatethe operating member 4 so? that-its pin 16 will enter a desired slot,and the notches16 correspond in number tothe slotsf13, 14 and 15 and arepositioned out of alinement so that a notch will always be in positionto receive the detent ,7, so that theoperating member 4 lmay-be locked-in a shifted or adjusted vposition with its pin 16 in either of thestop slots. Y l L i As shown inFig. 4, thecylinder 1 may have aperipheral flangev 17 that may be4 secured tothe dash or instrumentboardl 18 ofan automobile to maintain the cylinder 1 seatedin an openingin the dash or instru-y ment board, and in lthis instance lthe *cyl-linder 1 is supported so that the operating member may be easily vgrippedand actuatedi As shown in Fig. 5 the controlling device is locatedadjacent the steering column asadapted to be clamped in engagement withan apertured lug 23 bya rivet 24 or otherv fastening means, saidapertured lug being carried by a two-part clamp suitably secured on thesteering column assembly 19.`

The flexible member l9 attached to the operating member 4 of thecontrolling device is adapted to be trained over or vunder suitableguides or sheaves 26, carried by the automobile 2O so that thev flexiblememberV may operate V4the signal 21, and asvr brought out in mycompanion applicatiomthis signal includes an exhibitor adapted todis.playthree or more signs. The selection of eithersign depends on theadjustmentiof theleXiblememberQ and it isvinrthis 'connection that thestop member 12 has been designed for the three signs of the signal I 21,but it is obviousthat thefstop member that a desired sign Will beldisplayed by the l 12,V as Well as the operating member 4 may "beconstructed so as to" take Vcare of more o less signs of a signal.

With the'co'ntrolling device in proximity to the steeringwheel oftheautomobile, the chauffeur or driver of the automobile can easily gripthe handle 5 andrshift the opf erating member 4 ina desired direction sosi al 21 at the rear end ofthevautomobile.

lt Yis thought that the operation and utility of my controlling devicewill be apparent Without further description, and While in the drawingthere is illustrated `the preferred embodiment of my invention saidoperating member.

2. A controlling device adapted for operi ating a signal, comprising acylinder', a reciprocatory and 4rotary operating member in saidcylinder, a flexible signal operating member connected to said rotaryoperating member, means in said cylinder adapted to hold said v rotaryoperating membery in an adjusted position, and additional meansY in nsaid cylinder to limit a reciprocable move- Y ment of said rotaryoperating member. f

n 3. A controllingdevice adapted for operating a sigiiah'comprising acylinder, a reciproeatory andY rotary operating member slidable in saidcylinder, a flexible member connected -to saidbperating member andadapted for operating a signal, and a stop member supported atoneeii'dof said cylinder and extending'into said cylinder parallel tosaid operating member and adaptedto. .Y limit the movementof'saidoperating mem# Y ber. Y i

4. A controlling device adapted for operating afsignal, comprising acylinder, a cap carried by said cylinder, a reciprocatoryV androtaryvoperating Vmember slidable iii said p cap, a flexible signaloperating member connected to said reciprocatory and rotary op eratingmember, a slotted stopmembercarried by said cap Within saidlcylinder,and

a pin carried by said"reciprocatory andy rotary operating member andextending into said slottedv stop member, to define the movement of saidreciprocatory and rotaryv Y operating member. .v

5. A controlling device as characterized in claim 4, wherein additionalmeans carried by said cap is adapted for locking said reciprocatory androtary operating [member in an adjustedV position.

-6. A controlling device vadapted for operporting` means therefor, a capcarried by Said cylinder, an operating member slidable in vsaid cap, aslotted member carried by said cap Within said cylinder, a pin carriedby said operating'member and extending into said slotted' member andadapted to .have its movement defined by said'slotted member,a slieiivecarricdby said slottedmember, a flexible signal operating member trainedon said sheave and lconnected to thefirst mentioned operatingmember, andmeans adapted to engage the'fii'st mentioned operating ating a signal,comprising acylinder, supmember to hold said' member in an adjusted Yposition. 1

In testimony whereof I a'flix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses. l'

WALTER- L. BEACH.

lVitnesses: 'y'

KARL H. BUTLER, ANNA M. DoRR.

